Startup Defender is a small Windows startup manager program that sits in your Windows tray and constantly monitors in real time the startup locations on your PC to help prevent programs from auto starting up behind your back.

If a program tries to write itself into any startup location Startup Defender will pop up a windows and ask if the program is allowed to place itself to start automatically with Windows. Also you can disable/enable any programs that are currently installed to startup automatically.

Featured titles by Zards Software

Cleanse is a advanced uninstaller that finds and remove even the most stubborn of programs. Uninstall software faster, easier and more completely than you do with other programs. No problem uninstall. Using the Auto Find function all you have to do is drag and drop the programs icon you want to uninstall onto Cleanse Uninstallers icon and Cleanse will Auto Find the program in the uninstall list and start the uninstall process.

GoGoStop is a compact Scheduled Tasks Manager tool to set up and run unattended program execution. GoGoStop helps you to manage your frequent tasks and allows you to automatically start them in background. The flexible scheduling gives you the capability to specify exact start times on any day, week or month and the exact time you wish to stop your task also on any given day, week or month.

Easy Start Menu Organizer is a tool for arranging and removing start menu items with ease. The software makes it easy to sort applications into target groups. The software also allows copying and deletion of application icons from the Start menu. Arrange startmenu alphabetically and group folders. All this saves your time and helps you to keep your business in good order!

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#71

I've been using version 3.2.3 since it was available on GOTD. I've been quite happy with it and will now install the newer version offered today. :)

a general rule of thumb is: research.
I have no way of knowing what is needed on your system, but if it says M$, wait until you have looked it up to mess with it.

You should start with programs you recognize, if you don't use them enough to need it running, and it has no "background" functions, it should not be starting with your system.
AV/Firewall/Other Security - Leave in start-up, unless it's your backup extra, for on-demand checks only.

Wish I could be more help, but cannot have the necessary familiarity with your system to determine what you do and don't need.

I would suggest a little redundancy here. Along with WinPatrol, Avira's Task Manager is worth consideration (they have some nice stuff like a date sort possible in a column, and in general the alternative explorer style view that is not in WP). Another possible pairing is Startup Organizer by Metaproducts.

However only a couple of programs really specialize in ferreting out the full gamut of startup locales from a security standpoint, it would be interesting to compare the three above, locale by locale, including things like browser toolbars added. Metaproducts may be weaker.

There are other good startup programs, like Chameleon, that do not have the security specialty, which is really the key.

You really would prefer a program with ongoing updates. A forum is nice too, BillP has his blog and lots of back-and-forth with users of WinPatrol.

I would not use a startup manager unless it had some measure of comparison with what is in the startup and how much time it saves if it is removed from startup. Here Soluto shines, I can save 2 seconds if I dont set up the Javascript runfiles to be established (or whatever it is that Java does in the startup), I save time by the printer driver being delayed, I save time by deferring the image alignment utility from Adobe etc., etc., I can see a graph showing how my OS is running and how the startup times have varied.

My choice

No-one has mentioned Soluto - a very attractive (and possibly over enthusiastic start up manager) which also bundles in a web browser plugin check and a application crash handler. While heavy on resources, it performs its job of taking things in and out of the boot startup very very well. It offers to keep things in startup, to delay things, or to deny things their startup until you engage that particular program. I found it better than the startup in Glary's suite of tools, and the only reason I would drop Soluto is because it's too heavy and too intrusive. At the moment I don't find that at all, and accept it's presence on my task bar quite happily.

installed fine on win 7 x64 Home Prem. Options to directly search for querys in the startup locations helped me find 2 instances of the same program attempting to run at atartup. for all that is said and done, I am impressed.

This is a simple program and does the job.I have to give them credit for pricing it right because I have seen worse programs for $99.
I have more than 20 programs that I can use to control start up applications and my favorite the the one by Microsoft. Tweak UI is the name if you look Powertoys for Windows XP.

Question to Vendor: What is the normal license POLiCY for your software, for example purchase once and license for the life of the product, OR, license is for current version including minor updates but No Major UpGrades included etc.

Why do I ask: because I cant find the answers anywhere and I wont buy something I cant find mention of.

@#43 This is shegeek72. Common startups that don't have to be there are Adobe (usually Adobe Reader or Acrobat) and your printer/scanner/all-in-one (look for the brand of printer/scanner, i.e. HP, Canon, etc), iTunes and Real Player. Note that some of these, like Adobe and Real Player, will add themselves back into your startup, during updates, after you've unchecked them!

Before unchecking the program from msconfig, open the program in question and look in the preferences or settings for "start with Windows" (or something similar) and unselect it. Also, look for the program in your taskbar, right-click on it and look for "open," "settings," etc. and see if there's a start with windows setting.

You can experiment with programs you're not sure of by unchecking it in msconfig, rebooting, run the program and see if there are any problems. If there are just go back into msconfig and recheck the program. DON'T uncheck anything from Windows or Windows\system32 unless you're sure it doesn't need to be there!

After unchecking something in msconfig and rebooting your computer, sometimes a window will popup saying changes have been made to the system configuration. Check "Don't show this message or launch the system config again."

Processes tab right click, explore to folder would be useful, kill process on right click. Extend the size of the program location so that it more readable if window is larger than grid size.

Highlight if application is not running form a normal location i.e. in app data or temp folder.

Doesn't show startup folders applications/links, user or allusers.

Jump to registry key can sometimes be useful.

Align grids on the tabs as they don't line up.

About button only visible on Startup Programs tab.

About\Register button defaults to the serial number field not the username.

When running the application from a shortcut, it creates additional system tray icons until you move the mouse over them which then disposes of them.

Double click system tray icon doesn't show the main window.

Problems:
Editing an entry and changing the command line or argument looses the registry entry entirely even though it says "Startup Entry successfully created".
When a registry entry is detected that has a blank value, the app fills the screen line with the main application exe filename and path. e.g. C:\Program Files\Startup defender\Startup Defender.exe when in the registry it is blank.

Unhandled exceptions not handled!

Entering text into the search box appears to screw up screen display, also managed to cause an unhandled exception somehow, after searching for text it shows text "restore mode" and two normally unseen buttons incorrectly positioned on screen.

I would suggest that WSCC (Windows System Control Center)would solve many of the above problems, answer most of the questions, and many yet unasked, is constanly updated and offered free by Microsoft and may eliminate the need for many of the other utilities that you have installed. Try it: you'll like it!http://www.kls-soft.com/wscc/

Hi Public Respondent, both Anvir Task Manager, Win Patrol and Process Lasso enable you to prioritize which start up programs start first, so you can create a boot up list to your liking. I'm not sure whether the free versions can. any one of these is well worth purchasing IMO. (I ended up with all three, through various special offers, but you really only need 1. I'm tied between win Patrol and Anvir. I think I'd go for Anvir in the end though.

Some of the thinks i found missing or annoying with todays giveaway;

1) ... you are unable to select where to download the program. it automatically installs to the root drive programs folder

2) ... include the ability to stop programs and restart them from the programs GUI (you can stop, but not restart)

3) ... Add a security risk indicator. Color coding those at most risk Red to Green for the lowest risk

4) ... Include the ability to automatically link each start-up program/process with an online virus checker such as Virus Total

5) ... Mark important and/or essential start-up programs to make them obvious to novice users.

6) ... Once registered remove the registration item in the 'Help' drop down menu

7) ... Include the ability to separate Windows and non-Windows services from the toolbar

8) ... This program automatically installs itself to the computers start up Que without asking permission. The developer should allow the user to choose whether to install to the start up.

9) ... Include an offline help document with links to decent video tutorials - essential for novice users and useful for any user

10) ... Include an automatic shut down of Zards Startup Defender once the start up process has completed

11) ... Improve on the amount of information given to each start up program when highlighting it without having to select the option to connect to Google, there is very little information given about any of the start up programs in my list compared to the likes of Anvir Task Manager

12) ...Create a useful suite of tools by including Startup Defender with Cleanse Uninstaller, Task Manager (GoGoStop) and the Menu Organizer rather than selling them separately

13) ... Enable a faster boot-time by being able to start up more than one process, service and program at a time. Using multi-core cpus, this should be possible; the more cores, the faster they load.

14) ... Include information about drivers linked to their target programs. You could even include information about the version number and whether updates are available.

15) ... Include a Task Manager as an integral part of the Start Up Defender and then separate programs as well as Startup's, Services and Processes

16) ...Include the ability to check each process and Service via Google (as you can with the Start-up programs)

17) ... If using this with a laptop be able to create a separate list of start up programs that automatically starts if the laptop is on battery only

18) ... If I purchased a copy of this program would I get a lifetime license or just version upgrades? I couldn't find any information about this on your website

19) ... Convert this program to freeware. There are 'better' freeware startup managers already available

20) ... Improve the GUI, it looks boring

21) ... Include a network option so that I can control the start up programs opening on all of the computers on my home network.

I've already posted the above in the idea informer, but though it would be useful to add them in the comments section as well. :)

I downloaded Startup Defender and have it running, but under Services, it won't allow me to change the status of a service. Why is there options to Start, Stop, Resume, and Pause, if it doesn't relate to the sevices listed under the tab?

I enjoy both the comments on the GOTD products that are offered daily and the comments on what freeware offerings there are. All of this is helping me learn more about using computers and software. I agree with The Cat Lady @47 on the rarely post, but reading all of the posts. I am going to try Startup Defender today because from the comments it sounds like it will be worth my time. I am using Win Patrol, the free I haven't got the plus, and I thank the people who suggested this and other programs. I have a list of, of too many, to try freeware for various duties.
So, Thank you GOTD and Fellow Posters for helping me to find good programs to make my computer more fun to use and more usable. Specially GOTD for making all this possible and having a wonderful website.

@Brandon #23
Msconfig is a built in alternative. However, it is not as user friendly as many external programmes. That is also the reason for the success of programms like Defraggler, Ccleaner, Total Commander and startup managers like Glary, Winpatrol, and Anvir.
Furthermore, these startup managing programms offer extras and advantages, e.g. delayed start up and more efficiency and speed.

1) A developer who comes to GAOTD in expectation of feedback needs to be made aware of the existence of any successful existing freeware such as would render entirely pointless the developer's own commercial efforts; and:

2) a GAOTD community member needs to be made aware, via feedback here, of the existence of any successful existing freeware such as would render entirely poiontless the downloading of a commercial product that cannot be re-installed without incurring a cost when the freeware version can be re-installed time and time again, and in updated versions, without any cost at all.

On which note, Ron Romano, my feedback today is very short and very simple:

WinPatrol.

Thanks GAOTD, but no thanks: I haven't a clue why today's developer is even bothering.

This is nice but what I want and need is a startup program that is cheap/free that allows me to schedule the startup programs in MY choice of order. In other words, operating system first, firewall and virus protection next, then everything else in the order that I request them to boot.....EVERY TIME I BOOT! Does anybody know of such a program for cheap/free? Thank You! :-)

Well, yes, that's true. However, those who espouse all the "other" programs that do the job maybe better and certainly free have a true valid point. And that is this, "Why are you wasting your time and ours? There are dozens of programs that do the exact same job as your program, perhaps better, and probably less expensive. Stop reinventing the wheel. The wheel has worked perfectly for thousands of years. Invent something NEW." I believe THAT is what the other posters are REALLY saying.

I rarely post, but I read all of your (everyone here) posts every day. Thank you, Fellow Posters. I appreciate you greatly.

I agree with you completely. I'm over 50 and I remember Norton when it was Norton Utilities. That was a fantastic set of utilities that, alas, are no more. I stopped using Norton after it was destroyed by Symantec, too. It's totally useless bloatware now. Every time I get a new client that has Symantec installed, I switch them to something better ... and free.

I also like TeaTimer. It works very well letting me know when things want to infiltrate my start-up. I don't see much need to install today's offering, as what I have works so well.

Downloaded installed and Activated fine. Start up Defender appears to be nothing more than a regular start up organizer program. The program it self Runs well and seems to do what it is supposed to do. I had no issues with the program at all such as Crashes or freezing etc.

There are many other optional programs available that will do this sort of task in Freeware and commercial.

Seems to be ok but I could find this type of program anyware and at least the vendor is not asking a whole lot of money for the program.

I would give the program a thumbs up based that there was no Issues with it at all and seems to work well. If anybody missed a few Giveaways on here such as Glary Utils or Anvir Taskmanager Pro or Lasso pro then and they wanted to tweak their start up Functions this program would suffice.

I would Urge the Software Vendor Zards to care fully Look at the above 3 mentioned Software Programs for Ideas as pertaing to their own. The 3 above mentioned Software's are probablly your Biggest Competitors.

Side Note
Again GOTD Website is supposed to be for people to download,Install, Use, and Give a Review of the Program they are Offereing. Again to Many People are Useing GOTD Comments Review for their own Personal Platform to Advertise their Favorite FREEWARE programs. Everybody Knows That Freeware Programs Exsist and some are Great and some Not so Great However This Site is For Commercial Software Vendors and to get Reviews on Their Products.

Point in Case from the For Developers Link:

"One of the main benefits is a chance to get quality feedback from thousands of visitors"

The Vendor dose not want to hear about your Favorite Freeware Program or How many Programs are like this out there. They want to hear what you think about their Current Version They are offereing. They would also Hope to get as already Stated Quality Feedback from you. Not Comments Like it Sucks! or I Like it. But Explain to them Why you like or Dislike the Software. In The Long Run we all win Because they Can Make a better Program and a good product and we all can benifit from it by having good sold software that does what we need it to do.

Hello All, Please can somebody tell me, in a nutshell, what programs I need & what programs I don't need running at start-up? Having followed the advice of #13 Shegeek72 I ran "msconfig" & wow, a lot of stuff popped up!! Yes, my laptop (Windows7) has been getting slower & slower, so I'd love to get things faster again. But I have no idea what needs to run & what doesn't. Please could someone tell me if there is a "General Rule of Thumb" that I need to follow?
Thankyou G.O.T.D. People & thanks in advance to anybody who can give me any tips.
Cheers, Roadie John (Torquay U.K.).

Geez folks, it's 2012. Don't you think that if you need this program...you'd better add several more worthless programs just to ensure this one's working? Pile 'em up, folks. Your PC just loves being inundated by useless crap.

@#23, Brandon: A program like this stops other programs from putting themselves into the start folder to begin with (better said, let's you decide whether to allow that at the time). Hence, a good thing. Also, in my experience, the msconfig Start tab does not show everything--a program like this might reveal more. (I use AnVir Task Manager and it shows much more than msconfig, giving me more control.) Hope this helps--

#29, Marillian: If you mean the Run "button" within the start menu and its not there in your account then try right clicking on the task bar selecting properties then choose Start Menu "Tab" and press the customize button on that panel and then read down the list of available start menu settings and see if you can find an entry called Run command and it sould be unticked if you cannot find it on the Start menu itself, if so, Tick the box beside the name and hit OK all the way back to the desktop and "Run..." should re-apear in the start menu. Personaly I've made the habit of avoiding the Run... feature and choose the Command prompt since the Run... dialogue keeps a persitent history of commands entered and exposes admin tools I may use to fix a problem or tune a system to end users that could then try playing with those tools themselves and do damage to their systems.

In most cases from vista and up, you can just start typing the command you want to run manually in Start menu's search box and windows search will find it and other matches that you can run. (that is why Run... may be disabled by default in vista and above as it is effectively surplus to requirements in most cases.)

#3 Marc Williams:
Had a look at Mike Lin's StartupMonitor
and like the setup footprint size, it apears from his description that it is too simplistic to catch all the current startup registrations of programs, it only apears to look at the Start menu Starup folders and the registry Run entries, it makes no mention of the other methods used by both good and bad software alike, though mostly bad... Like a scheduled task set to run at login or delayed after login, this is sometimes used legitimatly by systray items that need admin access in Vista and do not want to be blocked by windows defender or present the user with a UAC prompt at each login if Windows Defender has been set to permit the startup entry. Also does not mention the plethora of other registry entries that are well known to conceal DLL's and executables that piggyback on session initiallisation stages. I have no idea if Zards product monitors them all or not but if it polls them all in real-time it will be a registry hog! Most anti-spyware products do what Zards product claims anyway.

In previous versions of Windows, you had to use an administrator account to do certain things, such as changing system settings or installing software. If you were logged on as a limited user, the Run as command eliminated the need to log off and then log back on as an administrator.

In this version of Windows, the Run as command has been changed to Run as administrator. You should rarely have to use the Run as administrator command because Windows will automatically prompt you for an administrator password when needed. Some older programs might still require you to use the Run as administrator command to eliminate the need to log off and then log back on.

1) Right-click the program icon or file that you want to open, and then click Run as administrator.

2) Select the administrator account that you want to use, and then type the password.

On the bottom left corner of your desktop is a round Windows icon. That's the Start button (in Win7 it isn't labeled). Click on that and your Start Menu pops up. At the bottom of the right hand side you'll find Run.

Please don't laugh, but ever since I switched to Windows 7 64b, I can't figure out how to even get to the Run command. Would someone explain the steps.
(No insults please, I am not a dev or programmer or anywhere in most of your leagues).

On Vista, UAC will prevent Startup Defender from starting without confirmation.

This sucks, but there's a solution.

Start - search: task scheduler

Create a new task, schedule it to;
- run elevated (as administrator)
- Trigger would be: At Logon
- Action =
"C:\Program Files\Startup defender\StartupDefender.exe" -silent
(where '-silent' indeed is used as a parameter)

Also, I tried the other mentioned programs here.
- Quick Startup. Nice basic program, contains Scheduled Tasks and Local Services too.
- Disable Startup. Especially nice for its Home-page guard. You can control the program the way you like: disable, warn once or always allow.
I'll keep it running by default to guard my Homepage and run alongside with AnVir Taskmanager. Today's giveaway will remain turned off, although it really performs well. One can only have so many startup managers ; )
- WinPatrol. Also a really good program, but butt-ugly, so removed ;P
Contains Scheduled tasks and also Delayed Start functionality. Really complete set of tools.
- mlin.net's startupCPL is really nice OS add-on. It settles into your control panel and should be delivered by MS by default : P
- msconfig. Comes with all Windows. Reasonably good, although misses some start-ups. One disadvantage: msconfig really disables a service, instead of putting it to manual. For these two reasons, only use as a quick check. Don't use it for services!

will pass on this I been using win patrol plus since they came out and will not change well worth 29.00 for the paid one, works on win 7 64 bit and 32 bit excellent, tryed zards once before not worth it

Startup Defender appears to be similar to Winpatrol. I have used Winpatrol Free for many years and I consider it essential for PC health. Winpatrol lists active applications and processes & allows me to selectively disable them. It monitors the registry for changes and actually "barks" when something needs my approval. I can manage auto-startup programs too. I use my PC to punch-in every morning, & Winpatrol delays my slow progs by 4 minutes so I can punch in first.

For a faster PC I also recommend managing internet access, especially by programs secretly checking for updates on the web. Your antivirus prog my have ridiculous settings. One set to check for updates every 10 minutes! Leave your PC on overnight once in awhile so AV scans can finish. Turn off Windows automatic updates and do it manually if you dare. Use a good firewall like Privatefirewall too.

To Phillip comment # 17. The giveaway team throughly check all programs before giving them away. What you are likely seeing is a false positive; your software is likely being activated by the giveaway wrapper that phones home and also has Software informer tied in somehow. Both may be seen as threats.

You will need to configure your AV software to allow todays program to install and run, then it'll allow you to install it.

If you are still unsure then use one of the online malware programs to scan the set up file, for example Virus Total. I'm positive you'll find it clean.